SCENE: FULANA JEN is running across the rooftops, dodging errant PLANT MONSTERS and easily leaping over gaps. Her face is grim, but collected. The streets below are full of writhing vines, charred from the fire, but already growing back. In the distance, three giant stalks still tower over the town.
NARRATOR: A flashback! Cracking the steady flow of time to take a peak at events that occurred in the past!
Suddenly, an invisible force hits her from the side, sending her flying off the roof and crashing into the window of a building across the narrow street. She spins around in mid air, easily rolling on the floor to catch her balance, and takes a stance, her blades at the ready. INVISIBLE CONSTANCE fades into view across from her, covered in grime and dust, with most of her clothing torn up, and FULANA JEN leaps forwards, aiming for her throat.
FULANA JEN: How did you survive? I have seen you plastered by that tentacle!
CONSTANCE snarls at her, deflecting her blades with one of her own.
CONSTANCE: I have nothing to say to a traitor and a crown slayer!
FULANA JEN’s ordinarily calm face looks baffled for a moment, and CONSTANCE knees her in the nose, sending her flying. FULANA JEN quickly recovers, and springs back into action. Sparks fly, as CONSTANCE fights ferociously while FULANA JEN defends calmly and methodically, before FULANA JEN manages to stab CONSTANCE in the leg.
CONSTANCE cries out, stumbling, and FULANA JEN lands a kick on her wrist, breaking a couple fingers and sending her short sword flying away. CONSTANCE reaches for her revolver with her left hand, but FULANA JEN drops one of her knives, grabs CONSTANCE by the collar and slams her into a wall, wrestling the revolver away from her grip and pointing it at CONSTANCE’s head. FULANA JEN’s teeth are bared.
FULANA JEN: Who do you work for?
CONSTANCE tries to spit in her face, but FULANA JEN easily moves to the side.
CONSTANCE: I work for Melty, unlike you, traitor.
FULANA JEN: I have committed no treason - answer my question.
CONSTANCE: Your mere existence is treason enough.
FULANA JEN hits CONSTANCE on the head with the handle of the revolver.
FULANA JEN: Answer me, and your treatment will be just. Was the attempted assassination of Melty your work?
CONSTANCE laughs.
CONSTANCE: You do not even realize your own treason? Oh, this is precious.
FULANA JEN: What pathetic lie is this? I am a shadow! I have served the Melromarc family loyally since birth!
CONSTANCE: That is true, you have served the family, but you haven’t served Melty.
FULANA JEN moves the revolver away a fraction, and CONSTANCE grins, seeing her confusion.
CONSTANCE: Oh, what, did you think those are the same thing? Anything but. What will you do when Melty returns to the capital? Will you continue to serve her? Of course not. Your first loyalty is to her mother, not to Melty.
FULANA JEN: Is this truly a joke? Melty has no plans to rebel against Mirellia. I would have known.
CONSTANCE: Oh, the poor child doesn’t even realize she already has. But that’s what we elders are here for, no? To help children avoid mistakes they do not notice?
FULANA JEN: Speak plainly or I will shoot your knees off.
CONSTANCE scowls.
CONSTANCE: Oh fine, I will spell it out. Melty wants to keep her alliance with Naofumi, and you know who he is. As soon as you return to the capital, you will report this to Mirella, and as soon as she hears it, she will do anything in her power to break them apart. You know Melty’s mother better than I do - Melty would be lucky if she walks away whole from the queen’s wrath. Is this not a betrayal of Melty on your part? Am I not obligated to stop you?
FULANA JEN squints, and uses her free hand to tear the mask off CONSTANCE’s face. She looks into her face, but clearly does not recognise her.
FULANA JEN: Who are you really?
CONSTANCE speaks slowly, enunciating every syllable.
CONSTANCE: Fredalia, daughter of Ellin. But you people would know me as countess Constance von Marukievich.
FULANA JEN frowns deeply.
FULANA JEN: Marukievich? That is a Dornuromarc house. Even if what you said wasn’t a plain lie, I’d sooner believe you were here with Myne.
CONSTANCE laughs again.
CONSTANCE: With her pathetic coup? That rebellion was doomed to failure from the start. I think she did it out of desperation, if anything else. Keeping to Melty is the only path forwards, this should be obvious to everyone who pays attention - sadly, a rarity, these days.
FULANA JEN: If you were a loyalist, then why would you attack me?
CONSTANCE: Are you deaf? I am loyal to Melty, while you are in truth loyal to Mirellia. Mirellia will destroy Melty due to your actions. Then Myne would inherit the throne, and cripple Melromarc for generations to come! Why shouldn’t I try to stop you?
FULANA JEN’s hand shakes.
FULANA JEN: Mirellia is the rightful queen. She knows what she is doing, and how to discipline her children.
CONSTANCE: Oh even you don’t believe that.
FULANA JEN’s eyes flash dangerously.
FULANA JEN: Enough of your lies. You are no countess, and you are no loyalist. Now tell me who you truly work for, or else I have no use of you!
CONSTANCE pauses, then sighs, her face relaxing into a mask of desperation.
CONSTANCE: Was I that bad, huh? Truly, my acting had gotten worse. How sloppy of me.
FULANA JEN: Speak!
CONSTANCE: The truth is that I was stalling, waiting for Midnight Sleep to take effect.
FULANA JEN’s eyes open a fraction, and she tries to pull the trigger to shoot CONSTANCE, but CONSTANCE moves much faster, easily disarming FULANA JEN, and shoving her to the ground. FULANA JEN moves sluggishly, strength suddenly leaving her body. CONSTANCE grins, keeping her revolver aimed at FULANA JEN’s head, and takes out a healing potion, drinking it immediately.
FULANA JEN: How did you?...
CONSTANCE: A hypodermic needle in the handle of my revolver. You must have not even noticed it piercing your skin in the excitement of the fight, did you? I have trained myself to always grip my revolver in just the right way, my fingers always away from the needle, but anyone else would surely fall victim to it.
FULANA JEN stares at her right hand, where a single drop of blood slowly seeps out of her finger. CONSTANCE laughs.
CONSTANCE: To think that for years I thought this measure to be the height of paranoia, something that could never possibly come up. Having my revolver taken away from me, and then surviving long enough for the poison to take effect? Unlike Midnight Sleep, most poisons need whole minutes to be effective. Surely any sensible enemy would shoot me immediately - it was my little private joke to myself, that I could somehow survive capture. But I suppose expecting sense out of you monarchist lapdogs is pointless.
FULANA JEN’s eyes open wider.
FULANA JEN: Where did you get Midnight Sleep? Are you a rogue shadow?...
CONSTANCE pulls herself up, standing proudly.
CONSTANCE: I am Fredalia, daughter of Ellin. And I am Constance von Marukievich, countess of Dornuromarc. But you would know me as a little letter F you find on the missives of those rats you shadows chase after in the darkness, ones that bring slaves out of the country.
CONSTANCE leans forwards, whispering conspiratorially, and motioning with her revolver.
CONSTANCE: F stands for Fredalia.
FULANA JEN’s eyes open wide, and she struggles to get up, crawling over to one of her dropped swords. CONSTANCE walks over and kicks it out of her reach. FULANA JEN gives her a hateful glare.
FULANA JEN: A terrorist maniac with nothing to stand for! I should have known.
CONSTANCE: Oh save me your moralizing. Do you really want the last moments of your life to be filled with rage? Tell me about something you love instead, while we wait for the poison to fully take effect. Family? Friends? Children, perhaps?
FULANA JEN clasps her hands together.
FULANA JEN: I pray to the Almighty that you suffer every sickness, every disease, every curse imaginable as you choke to death on your own blood!
CONSTANCE: Ha. Do you know how often I heard that one? Well, your God of three heroes seems to have little influence on me as of late. Perhaps I should offer a prayer of my own to the true God of the four.
CONSTANCE hums.
CONSTANCE: But not now. You know, I was being honest when I said your actions would bring Melty down? I have no idea what is going through the head of that girl, but whatever it is, I want it to go on for a while longer - we aren’t quite ready to take on her mother out in the open. You can rest safe, knowing I will deliver your charge to the capital safe and sound.
CONSTANCE crouches next to FULANA JEN, quickly searching through her clothing for hidden weapons. FULANA JEN is too weak to stop her.
CONSTANCE: Were there any other questions you wanted answered before your death, oh lapdog of tyrants?
FULANA JEN: I have nothing to ask of a terrorist. Even in this crisis, you are nothing more than a bloodsucker at the neck of our people.
CONSTANCE nods.
CONSTANCE: Admittedly, I would have preferred to pick a different time, but getting you killed in a way that would pass by Melty is quite hard - the girl is devilishly observant. Familial trait, I suppose. But it really won’t be so bad. Melty, Filo and Naofumi are frankly stronger without us two - Filo can fly around faster, and Naofumi has fewer people to protect. Really, we were weighing them down - I am sure they’d get that stalk destroyed. As for the town, the count deserved what came to him, and I instructed my people how to behave in the event of a pogrom. The casualties should be minimal.
CONSTANCE sighs, gets up, and drags FULANA JEN’s limp body to the window. FULANA JEN still has her hands clasped in prayer, whispering under her breath.
CONSTANCE: Of course there are always risks. If she does find out, then I will take the fall, and hope Naofumi can salvage the rest.
CONSTANCE frowns at FULANA JEN, and pries her hands apart. A letter F is visible in blood on one of her palms, where she scratched it through her skin with the nails of her other hand. CONSTANCE clacks her tongue.
CONSTANCE: Clever. If Melty found your corpse like this, it’d have been the end of me. Well, let’s fix this.
CONSTANCE forcefeeds FULANA JEN a healing potion, and then stomps on her fingers to break them.
CONSTANCE: There we go, no more cuts in your skin. It’s a good thing these potions don’t do a thing about poisons.
CONSTANCE glances out of the window, making sure the street is empty, and throws FULANA JEN out into the street. She hits the ground with a crack, and the vines on the ground squirm over her, squeezing her limbs until they begin to pop. FULANA JEN cries out, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
FULANA JEN: Please, shoot me. If you have a single good bone in your body, shoot me!
CONSTANCE clacks her tongue again.
CONSTANCE: Can’t do that, girl. Did you know how many good people I’ve lost to you, had them vanish into your shadowy basements, never to come out? Fathers, mothers, even children - I won’t tarnish their names by saying them aloud in your presence. I know enough about how you pull secrets out of people - they deserve a little vengeance for the tortures of your organization, don’t you think?
CONSTANCE looks around once again, making sure they are alone, as she watches FULANA JEN slowly die below her.
CONSTANCE: Besides, someone could hear the gunshot, or Melty might have counted my bullets, and this assassination has to be pristine. There is a reason I didn’t shoot you right away.
CONSTANCE waits, keeping careful watch over FULANA JEN’s suffering, until she hears a crash in the distance, and sees the shadows of three enormous stalks toppling to the ground, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Several buildings collapse onto the road. When she glances back down, FULANA JEN is dead, her neck finally snapped by the vines. She nods, and climbs up onto the roof, making sure to kick some roof tiles onto the street below, where FULANA JEN had “slipped” to her death.
CONSTANCE: Now to return to where I have lain unconscious all this time, pinned under rubble.
CONSTANCE runs away, vanishing into invisibility as she goes.
----------------------------------------
SCENE: Square where the fight against the plant stalk took place. NAOFUMI kneels near it, cutting off a part and feeding it to his shield. Some distance away, FILO is carrying MELTY, who is still too weak to move on her own.
NAOFUMI gets up, and returns to the others.
NAOFUMI: We should head back - there is still the pogrom to deal with.
MELTY winces.
MELTY: Damn it, I forgot about it. Let’s hurry.
NAOFUMI: How long do you think it will take for your blood to regenerate? Healing spells can only do so much against tissue loss.
MELTY: Hard to guess. Twenty minutes, perhaps, before I could cast anything. Less before I could walk.
They head towards the town. MELTY seems to be deep in thought, before sighing, and speaking softly.
MELTY: Thank you.
NAOFUMI: For what?
MELTY: You’ve just helped me save my sister, did you not? Like I asked you to do.
NAOFUMI: Oh. Well, since we were heading here anyways, we would have probably done so regardless.
MELTY: I still owe you my thanks. For all that you are a liar and your actions border on armed rebellion, I suppose I can’t fault you for being a decent hero, and truly caring about the people.
NAOFUMI: Hm. There are monarchs that are bigger leeches than you.
MELTY can’t help but laugh.
MELTY: Was that supposed to be a compliment?
NAOFUMI: It is only factual.
MELTY shakes her head.
MELTY: Let us talk politics and strategy in the evening. With this crisis done, we’ll have to go back to the capital. My mother will be returning soon, and I think I will need your help in dealing with her.
Suddenly, FILO’s head snaps to the side, and she stares down one of the alleys leading away from the square. In the distance, a FLOCK OF FILOFIALS is quickly approaching down the street, with no riders. FILO begins to look anxious.
FILO: Melty, can you stand riding on me? We have to get out of here.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
MELTY: I would fall off for sure, and I doubt Naofumi could hold me safely.
FILO swears, jogging over to the side of the street and hiding behind some rubble. NAOFUMI follows after her.
MELTY: Wild filofials? You think they are monsters?
FILO: No. Yes. I don’t know, I have a bad feeling about them.
Moments later, the FLOCK OF FILOFIALS enters the square. For a few moments, they run around in a circle, before parting, revealing a short MYSTERIOUS WOMAN dressed in opulent skirts of feathers, looking as finely styled as any noble court dress. She looks not just old, but ancient, her skin so wrinkled that you could barely see her eyes, but beneath it roll wiry and powerful muscles. Her head of white hair holds a small silver crown, stuck in place even as she moves around quickly. FILOFIALS scatter around the square, beginning to peck at the plants on the ground.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN glances around, and looks directly at the place where NAOFUMI and FILO are hiding, turning towards them. FILO snarls, hands MELTY off to NAOFUMI, and takes a fighting stance.
FILO: Naofumi, run. I am right behind you.
NAOFUMI begins running. FILO is easily keeping up with him. They break sight to the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN as they enter the alley, and FILO transforms into her bird form, tossing NAOFUMI on top of her with a wave of her wing. NAOFUMI manages to grab on without losing hold of MELTY. FILO sets off at a sprint.
NAOFUMI: Who is that?
FILO: No idea. But it’s really bad news, I can feel it.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN comes rocketing into the alley, running faster than FILO, her long skirts seemingly not obstructing her in any way. Despite her speed, her feet are quiet on the ground, almost silent. She heads straight for FILO, and jumps, spinning head over heels in mid air to aim a kick down on FILO. FILO halts herself with wind magic, and NAOFUMI is thrown off by the deceleration, his hands busy holding MELTY. MELTY screams as they fly through the air. MYSTERIOUS WOMAN’s foot misses FILO by a meter, and shatters paving stones on the street. She has a calm, almost bored expression on her face, and her voice is clear and strong, despite her elderly appearance.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: Þū eart scearpseoloc, cild. Þæt is weorþlic. [You are observant, child. That is admirable.]
A low growl comes from FILO’s chest, and she makes a swipe at the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN with her giant claws, but she steps back out of range easily. NAOFUMI rolls on the ground, managing to keep MELTY safe. MELTY looks panicked.
MELTY: Who are you? We do not need to fight!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN ignores MELTY entirely. She is dodging swipes of claw and beak from FILO, before suddenly closing in, grabbing FILO by one of her legs, and swinging her massive body overhead, slamming it into the ground.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: Ac ðū ne ēacnode genōg - ðū sceoldest ðē sylfne nā swā openlīċe forlǣtan. [But you didn't train enough - you shouldn't leave yourself open like that.]
NAOFUMI: Shield prison!
A ball of shields snaps into place around the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN. As it closes, she looks curious. FILO gets up off the ground, shaking herself off, and motions to the others with a wing. NAOFUMI and FILO run away, throwing careful glances back at the shield prison. MELTY, nervously biting her lip, is still carried by NAOFUMI.
FILO: What the hell was it saying?
NAOFUMI looks at FILO curiously.
NAOFUMI: You didn’t understand her?
FILO: No, it was talking nonsense!
MELTY: I think it was ancient Belonian. It’s a dead language, though I’ve heard one professor in Faubrey attempt a reconstruction of how it sounded.
NAOFUMI: My shield must be translating for me somehow. She was trying to give you advice, I think?
Suddenly, the shield prison shatters behind them. For a moment, there is an explosion of feathers, a massive ball tens of meters wide that clips the buildings on the sides of the street, sending stone flying away into the air. In the next moment, it is gone, replaced by the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN. When she speaks again, easily projecting her voice over the street, her accent is heavy, but it is in the modern language.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: It ought translate for thy companions as well. Hast thou still not cracked this puzzle? How long hast thee dallied in this world, Shield Hero? Wherefore art thou not of higher level?
NAOFUMI: I was busy!
MELTY: Can we stop this fight? If you know so much of the Shield Hero, we can negotiate!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN ignores MELTY, closing in on FILO again. FILO turns back into a human, skidding to a stop while NAOFUMI continues running, and wind whips around her, picking up stones and debris from the ground, sending a torrent of them towards the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.
FILO: Damn it, I didn’t grab my rifles!
NAOFUMI: Why are you fighting us?!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN dodges most stones, kicking some back at FILO, NAOFUMI and MELTY, flying fast enough to kill. NAOFUMI has to activate an air shield to protect himself and MELTY, and stones shatter into dust against its surface.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: Thy strength must be tested, Hero. A weakling cannot stand between this world and the Waves, nay, such is the duty of the strong.
NAOFUMI: This is a test to you?! You almost killed us!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: Shouldst thou fail this trial, then thou wert a weakling of no use to me. Already thou testeth my patience, begging the use of this modern tongue.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN finally closes in on FILO, and begins to trade punches with her, giving curt criticism throughout. She is moving slower than before, just a hair breath faster than FILO. FILO is snarling at her, but not making much progress. NAOFUMI stops a distance away. MELTY’s fingers are white where she is gripping his shoulders.
MELTY: Please, stop this!
NAOFUMI: We could discuss this! You didn’t even tell us your name?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN turns her head away from FILO, raising a curious eyebrow at NAOFUMI.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: If thou hath aught to say, then speak? I fight not with my mouth.
FILO takes the opening to punch MYSTERIOUS WOMAN in the head, sending her into the ground, only for MYSTERIOUS WOMAN to immediately spring back and send FILO flying into the wall of a nearby building with a mighty kick.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN doesn’t move from where she lands, dusting herself off and waiting for FILO to extricate herself from the rubble.
NAOFUMI: Who are you?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I have forgotten what name my master granted me, ages since, yet some hath called me the filofial queen. Thou may address me likewise.
A spark of recognition shines in MELTY’s eyes.
MELTY: How did you find us?
FILOFIAL QUEEN ignores MELTY. FILO comes bursting out of the rubble, flying straight at the FILOFIAL QUEEN, and smacks her across the face with a large wooden beam. The beam shatters from the force of the hit, and the FILOFIAL QUEEN is sent skipping down the street like a stone on water. FILO spits out blood on the ground, wiping her mouth.
FILO: Melty, can you do that spell with the water rings? One that cuts things apart?
MELTY: I can still barely move, let alone do magic.
NAOFUMI: She didn’t attack us while you were out of the fight just now. I think we could… Maybe talk to her?
FILO: The fuck would we talk with that thing about, how to cook us all for dinner?
FILOFIAL QUEEN gets up off the ground down the street, dusts herself off, and sprints back towards FILO.
NAOFUMI: She is clearly not fighting as hard as she could, just testing you.
FILO: Yeah no shit, it’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. But if it wants to give us an opening to kill it I say we take it.
MELTY and NAOFUMI share a look. FILOFIAL QUEEN laughs as she comes in low and tries to grapple FILO, only for FILO to jump away, carried further on air currents.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Valorous thinking, child. The spark of murder in thine eyes is a credit to thee. But thou canst not dispatch me. Not as thou art now.
FILO: Then how do I kill you, thing?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Grow stronger o’er a century or three.
NAOFUMI: Why do you keep calling her a thing?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: The child can feel what I am, and is rightly frighted. There can only aye be one filofial queen, only one with the superior will that forceth others to bow. 'Tis an ancient instinct - to fight till only one is left.
FILOFIAL QUEEN backs off the fight, smiling.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Only with age can such instincts be conquered.
FILO goes after the FILOFIAL QUEEN, and manages to grab her by the waist, supplexing her into the ground. Her head breaks stones, being buried into the earth below.
FILO: Fuck your instincts!
FILOFIAL QUEEN extricates herself, throws FILO aside, and dusts herself off.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: A curious move. 'Tis rare for children to surprise me. Yet enough of this - let us talk, Shield Hero.
FILOFIAL QUEEN turns to face NAOFUMI. FILO comes back into the fight, but FILOFIAL QUEEN has her cold eyes trained on the hero, making barely any mistakes despite it.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I came because I saw the monsters here, through the eyes of my filofials. ‘Twould seem I was a hair too late, as thou hast killed the plants already. Yet since I am here, ‘tis as good we converse, Shield Hero - though another month’s preparation I’d have allowed thee. I saw thou wert in conflict with the other heroes, when this world befell thee - or was I mistaken?
NAOFUMI: You weren’t. But why do you care?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: The Heroes must fight together to oppose the Waves.
NAOFUMI: That won’t be a problem. We have reconciled since then - Motoyasu is even here, near one of the other stalks.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Ah, ‘tis well. ‘T would seem I missed your reconciliation - not all ways can I gaze at once. Thou needn't be dispatched, then.
A shudder runs through NAOFUMI.
NAOFUMI: What?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Were it that this batch of heroes would not work together, then ‘twould be better for the world if you all died, so that new ones could be summoned while the waves remain so weak.
NAOFUMI opens his mouth to respond, but cries out instead, clutching his head. His shield begins to turn into the curse shield, and SPIRIT OF TANKIE NAOFUMI appears behind him.
SPIRIT OF TANKIE NAOFUMI: Ha! If you won’t join me willingly, I suppose I will just have to force the issue.
SPIRIT OF TANKIE NAOFUMI stretches his hands towards NAOFUMI, but SPIRIT OF DIRECT ACTION appears behind him, and the two SPIRITS begin to grapple.
FILOFIAL QUEEN sees NAOFUMI clutching his head and frowns.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: That is a curse shield. Thou hast been using curse weapons? Thou might be weaker than I imagined, to activate them. No wonder thy filofial is cursed.
MELTY slaps NAOFUMI across the face, but he is unresponsive, just rolling around in pain. She turns to the FILOFIAL QUEEN.
MELTY: If you know what is wrong, then help him!
FILOFIAL QUEEN ignores MELTY, but approaches NAOFUMI, breaking off from FILO. FILO stops the fight, following after her, looking anxiously between her and NAOFUMI. FILOFIAL QUEEN kneels next to NAOFUMI, looking at him in concern.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Thou must snap out of it without mine aid. Should thou never… If thou art so feeble as to already be corrupted by the curse weapon to this extent, then mayhap I should dispatch thee after all. A frail soul shall not provide the strength this world needs. .
FILO moves through the air immediately, kicking FILOFIAL QUEEN in the head at full speed, sending her flying away. A pane of hardlight appears out of thin air, and FILOFIAL QUEEN bounces off it back towards FILO. She moves much faster than before, and easily catches her by the hands, pinning her down to the ground. FILO snarls, but can’t escape her grasp. More light appears out of thin air, binding FILO with golden chains. She struggles, but cannot get free.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Our fight hath been entertaining, yet this is of greater import, child. Never interfere.
FILO: You are not killing NAOFUMI.
FILOFIAL QUEEN sighs in exasperation.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: The curse weapons are a menace, child. I have seen this befall a dozen times - they latch onto a hero in times of great despair or pride, and then they hammer til there is no hero left, only the weapon. They are a blight, and e'en I can’t be sure I would not fall while putting one down. Should that he cannot bring himself back by his own efforts, then he is too far gone, and killing him shall be a mercy.
FILO: If you do, I will hunt you down and tear that smug head off!
FILOFIAL QUEEN smiles.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Of course thou shall. Thou art a filofial raised by a hero, and thus thou shalt either take my crown, or die trying. ‘Tis not my first time dealing with one of mine own kind.
FILO: I don’t need your fucking crown! I’ll toss it into the ocean - do not hurt my friend.
FILOFIAL QUEEN raises an eyebrow, giving FILO a curious glance.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Thy friend? ‘Twould seem I’ve misjudged thee, and thou art not truly acting on instinct. Should he recover, haply I shall see about training thee properly.
FILOFIAL QUEEN stands up and heads back towards NAOFUMI, finding MELTY lying across him, blocking her access. FILOFIAL QUEEN finally looks straight at MELTY, giving her the coldest stare yet. MELTY smiles back, speaking slowly.
MELTY: I would appreciate it if you didn't hurt this hero.
FILOFIAL QUEEN’s stare grows colder still, her accent deepening.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Move. Now.
MELTY pauses, but shakes her head.
MELTY: I need this hero -
FILOFIAL QUEEN’s hand strikes out faster than the eye can follow, lifting MELTY up by her throat. FILO snarls.
FILO: Do not kill Melty, you bitch!
FILOFIAL QUEEN gives FILO a baffled look.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Truly? Is this one thy friend too? If such is thy wish.
FILOFIAL QUEEN relaxes her grip and brings MELTY close to her face. She speaks slowly, enunciating as clearly as she can.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I shall spare thy life, yet never speak further to thy betters. I have seen many of thy kind throughout the centuries - lovers, companions, hirelings, soldiers; all running after this or that hero - thousands of 'em, their faces blending together in my memories. Each thinking themselves special, only to find out otherwise, and by now, none e'en remembers their names. I have seen kingdoms rise and fall, carved out as demesnes by a power-hungry hero or their children, and not one composed a single difference to the flow of time - and neither shall thy fall. I speak to the heroes because they fend off the Waves. I speak to the little ones raised by the heroes, for they hath nobody else to speak for 'em - and haply among them I shall find mine heir. Yet the rest, and thou art among them, deserve none of my time. Should I dispatch this hero, then thou shall just run after the next. ‘Twould not matter one bit. Hence hie, be free!
FILOFIAL QUEEN tosses MELTY aside. MELTY coughs, landing next to NAOFUMI, and stubbornly puts her hand in between him and the FILOFIAL QUEEN. FILOFIAL QUEEN stares down at her.
MELTY: It would be - cough - a mistake - to kill this hero.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Thou test my patience.
MELTY: You said - cough - that you would have killed him if he still was in conflict with the other heroes. Yet that conflict is of your own making. If only you spoke to the rulers of Melromarc earlier, made yourself known, told them how important it was for all heroes to stay side by side - it would not have happened.
FILOFIAL QUEEN narrows her eyes.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: The rulers started the conflict?
MELTY: That is so.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Then I may kill the rulers as well. Was that your wish? I give thee thanks - it is hard for me to know what happens where filofials cannot see.
Panic flashes through MELTY’s eyes.
MELTY: My bid was to have you speak to them, not kill them! They’ve changed since then!
FILOFIAL QUEEN: A waste of my time. Rulers change like the seasons - only the heroes are strong enough to stop the Waves. Now get thee hence.
MELTY: You are the Heavenly Fowl spirit, aren’t you? Never speaking, but seen often when calamities come? If you do not care for us common people, then why do you even fight against the Waves?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: ‘Twas the final wish of my master, ere he breathed his last.
MELTY: Your master. A shield hero as well, was he not?
FILOFIAL QUEEN nods.
MELTY: Terrak the first? The founder of Shieldfrieden?
FILOFIAL QUEEN narrows her eyes imperceptibly, saying nothing.
MELTY: You said - cough - that it wouldn’t matter if he died. But it would matter. Whatever else I have to say about him, he is a decent hero. The others we would summon - they would be worse.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: This gent is weak, and a single weakness among the heroes is unjustifiable.
MELTY: He isn’t weak - though perhaps he was before. You said that the curse weapons latch onto a hero and don’t let go - he was mistreated greatly when he came in, as you already know. Perhaps he allowed a moment of weakness. But that is not the case anymore - though without your help, he isn’t yet strong enough to break free. If you can help him, you should.
FILOFIAL QUEEN sighs, pursing her lips in exasperation.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Not being weak only makes him average. What causes thee to say another would be worse? Shall thou say to me that he is a good, virtuous man like no other? Every hero claims as much.
MELTY: I am saying he is at least as virtuous as your master, and you can ask any demihuman in the town behind us if you do not believe me.
Something behind FILOFIAL QUEEN’s eyes changes, and a flame of fury arises there. She leans down, closer to MELTY.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Brave little human, answer me one question, and I shall decide whether to help him. Lie, or answer wrongly, and I shall snap both your necks.
MELTY coughs, swallowing nervously, but meets FILOFIAL QUEEN’s eyes.
MELTY: What question?
FILOFIAL QUEEN: The one my master asked oft. This hero - if the time came for him to choose 'twixt saving the world or saving its people, which would he choose?
MELTY answers without hesitation.
MELTY: The people.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: How could thou be so sure?
MELTY laughs.
MELTY: He would bite my head off if I answered any differently. You can ask him more if you do not believe.
FILOFIAL QUEEN purses her lips, then gets up and heads over to FILO. FILO looks at her with hatred in her eyes.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I shall help thy friend, yet under one condition - thou must become mine heir.
FILOFIAL QUEEN snaps her fingers, and a small silver tiara appears in her hands.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I am dying. It could be that I have yet another century or twain i’ me, yet not moe than that. I want a heir anon - some one whom shall keep behind, defend the world against the Waves, and dispatch off any hero whom falls to the curse weapons. Thou shall be this heir. This tiara is a fraction of my power - it shall make thee stronger, and protect thee from any untoward mental influences, yet also bind thee to this quest. Thou shall want it, if thou art to keep an eye towards the curse shield bearer.
FILO grinds her teeth together.
FILO: Fine.
FILOFIAL QUEEN puts the tiara on FILO’s head, and it vanishes in a flash of light. FILO’s hair turns from blonde to silver, matching that of the FILOFIAL QUEEN. FILOFIAL QUEEN strolls over to NAOFUMI, still screaming on the ground, and puts a single finger on his forehead. Bright light surrounds his body, and a similar, though dimmer light surrounds FILO and MELTY.
SPIRIT OF TANKIE NAOFUMI, still wrestling with the SPIRIT OF DIRECT ACTION, is instantly tied up in chains and gagged, completely incapable of moving. SPIRIT OF DIRECT ACTION kicks him in the stomach, then both of them vanish. NAOFUMI goes quiet and falls asleep.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: I cured those in his party of their curses. Mine spell shall last for some time - I wot not how long. Belike three months, haply less. Should he use a curse weapon, it shall break. Ere that happens, he must find me in the Sargat forests, not far from the crater, and I shall cleanse him fully. I see through the eyes of filofials - find any wild ones, and they shall guide thee to me.
FILOFIAL QUEEN gets up, and whistles. FLOCK OF FILOFIALS quickly approaches them, accepting her into their midst, and they start running in circles. FILOFIAL QUEEN stares at FILO and MELTY from the middle of the circle, partially obscured by the birds.
FILOFIAL QUEEN: Dawdle not - you haven’t the time to spare.
When FILOFIALS split up again, there is no more sign of the FILOFIAL QUEEN.
----------------------------------------
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
CONSTANCE VON MARUKIEVICH / FREDALIA. Secretly demihuman. Faked own death.
FULANA JEN, SHADOW. Head of MELTY’s SHADOWs. Secret service. Assassinated by CONSTANCE.
NAOFUMI IWATANI, THE SHIELD HERO. One of the socialists. Slept through a second fight in a row.
DARK NAOFUMI / TANKIE NAOFUMI. Voice of the cursed weapon. Unsuccessful possessor.
PRINCESS MELTY Q. MELROMAC. First heir to the throne of Melromarc. Negotiator. Non-ambulatory.
PRINCESS FILO. Newly crowned. Revolutionary status unclear.
FILOFIAL QUEEN. Older than rocks. Social darwinist.